r/Internationaltrade

I recently joined my family business, which manufactures tractor and agricultural machinery parts in India. We’ve been in the business for decades, but I’m now trying to take the company into exports, starting with Italy.

I’m planning to visit EIMA Bologna in November, and this will be my first international market and my first serious attempt at exporting.

The problem is that I’m honestly starting from almost zero in Italy.

My total trip budget will be around ₹1.5 lakh, but currently I have:
No meetings booked
No Italian customers
No distributor/agent
No samples specifically for the Italian market
No existing Italian tractor-model products in our range

Our current product range is mainly tractor and agricultural machinery parts for the Indian market, and the Italian market has a very different mix of machines and models.

So I’m trying to figure out how to approach this intelligently.

1. How many meetings should I realistically aim to book?
If I’m spending around ₹1.5 lakh on the trip, how many serious buyer/distributor/manufacturer meetings would make the trip worthwhile?
10? 20? 30?
And should I be targeting distributors, spare-parts companies, agricultural machinery manufacturers, or OEMs?

2. How do I actually get these meetings?
I’ve been emailing Italian companies, but the response rate is extremely low.
What actually works in Italy for getting a first meeting with a potential buyer?
Cold email? LinkedIn? Phone calls? Local sales agents? Introductions? EIMA’s networking/meeting system?

3. What do I show them if I don’t have the right products?
This is probably my biggest problem.
I don’t want to walk into a meeting with random Indian tractor parts that have nothing to do with their products.
Are Italian manufacturers/distributors open to giving a potential supplier a sample, drawing or specification and asking them to manufacture it?
For example, if a company uses a particular gear/shaft/component that we don’t currently manufacture, could I approach them as:
“We are an Indian manufacturer of gears and agricultural machinery components. If you have components that you currently source and would like an alternative supplier for, we can manufacture according to your drawing/sample/specification.”
Is that a realistic approach?

4. How should I position myself in the first email?
I can’t honestly say that we already manufacture Italian tractor-model parts because we don’t.
I also don’t want to pretend we’re something we’re not.
Would it be better to position ourselves as a custom/OEM manufacturing partner for gears and agricultural machinery components, rather than as an existing Italian spare-parts supplier?

5. Is this trip even worth doing?
If you were in my position, would you spend ₹1.5 lakh to attend EIMA with no meetings and no Italian-specific samples?
Or would you first spend 2–3 months building contacts and only go once I have a certain number of confirmed meetings?
I’m looking for advice from people who have actually done B2B manufacturing/export sales, especially in Europe.

What would you do if you were starting from exactly this position?

I’m considering importing Chinese electric bikes and wondering whether it’s better to deal directly with a supplier or use a marketplace like Alibaba. I’m mainly concerned about supplier reliability, pricing, quality control, payment protection, and shipping. For those with experience importing e-bikes, which option has worked best for you?

Hi everyone,

I'm from a rice milling business and am currently exploring getting into direct rice exports, particularly parboiled rice through Kakinada and Visakhapatnam port.

We currently sell rice domestically, including to traders/exporters in Kakinada and Visakhapatnam, but I don't have practical experience with the export side. I'm trying to understand how the process actually works on the ground, including the operational challenges and the pain points.

I'd really appreciate advice from rice exporters, CHA/customs brokers, Freight forwarders, or anyone who has worked in this area.

A few things I’m trying to understand:

• How does the complete port process work, from the rice arriving at the port/warehouse to vessel loading?
• What are the typical handling, storage, CHA, port, loading and other charges at Kakinada?
• At what shipment quantity does exporting through Kakinada start making economic sense? Are a few 25-ton containers viable, or do the economics generally work only for larger shipments?
• How are quality inspection, fumigation, phytosanitary certificates, sampling, etc. handled?
• Which parts are normally handled by the exporter directly and which are handled by a CHA/freight forwarder?
• Are there reliable service providers at Kakinada who can essentially handle the port-side operation for a new exporter?
• What are the common mistakes or unexpected costs a first-time rice exporter should watch out for?

I am looking to connect with anyone who has experience exporting parboiled/non-basmati rice through Kakinada or Visakhapatnam and would be willing to offer some advice or mentorship.

Also, if anyone else is at a similar stage and would like to explore this space together, feel free to connect.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for reliable Chinese suppliers/wholesalers for niche fashion products to test a small business.

Mainly looking for:

• Clothing: Patagonia/Arc’teryx-style outdoor jackets, Ralph Lauren-style clothing, etc.
• Shoes: trendy sneakers, Golden Goose-style designs, different Jordan/Dunk-style designs, etc.
• Watches: automatic watches with a somewhat luxury/premium look.
• Good quality and reasonable wholesale prices are important.
• Ideally looking for suppliers who can do small trial orders first and then larger quantities if the quality is good.
• Looking for suppliers with real product photos/videos, QC, and reliable shipping.

If you know any trusted factories, wholesalers, agents, or sourcing contacts in China, please DM me with their WeChat/WhatsApp/Alibaba/1688 details and product catalog/prices if available.

Not looking for scams or low-quality sellers. Genuine supplier recommendations/contacts only.

Thanks!

Hello, guys i created an import and export company (any product) and i was wondering what goods should i try and indulge in or learn about .Thanks

For people involved in international trade, procurement or importing:

When you're considering a supplier you've never worked with before, what is the one thing that gives you enough confidence to move forward?

Is it:

Product samples and COA/specifications?

Factory/company verification?

Third-party inspection?

Previous export experience?

References from existing buyers?

Communication and responsiveness?

Competitive pricing?

Something else?

I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who regularly source internationally.

What has made you say “yes, let's try this supplier” — and what has made you reject one?

In my years of work as an exporter and an export import consultant i have spoken and mentored many individuals including students, professionals (wanting to switch their career), traders, farmers who all want to start their export import business.

The first thing they say is i need practical training. Yes, this makes sense and we all know that theory is just for passing examination and practical is for actual execution. But what is practical exposure in export import. In real it is a term which has been mostly misunderstood.

Many coaches or online trainers have used "PORT VISIT Included" for Marketing their online theoretical group classes. Where one day of the 2-3 days they hire a bus and take the members to a nearby port and show them the landscape.

This is a container yard, this is CFS, this is where the container gets loaded to the vessel etc etc etc.....Not sure what learning the members will get out of this. In real it is a picnic not a knowledge session.

I would consider a port visit completely useless on understanding export import.....

Let me tell you a hard truth... An exporter need not be in the port while the custom clearance happens, the loading takes place...... In fact, you are not allowed to go inside the port since these are all restricted areas.. Only licensed CHAs are allowed inside and those are the ones who handle your shipment. Hence they are paid in the process. That is why a CHA exists. He is an expert, he is the one who understands how to clear and what time to plan.

As new exporters, don't get sold for an online lie of "PORT VISIT"......

Now the key question - What is practical understanding in export import.?

Get to know the documents in real. Why does a commercial invoice, proforma invoice, packing list exists, what fields does it have., how to fill it. what details do you need...

How does a actual shipping bill look like... What are its uses...Where is it used.....How does a real Bill Of Lading work...What fields are in it....

Whom to contact for freight booking - container, air cargo...How can i trust them ,...Will they do a good job in operation and pricing.

How to plan my cargo from factory to port or airport....

How can i get a verified CHA who will take responsibility of my shipment and will give me fair pricing....

Who are my supplier....How can i trust him....Is the price right and fair as per market....What will be my margin....

Know the product in & out....the specs, varieties, packing standards, shelf life, storage, transportation, seasonality, demand, pricing etc etc....

All these above are practical learning as per me...

Don't get sold to the "PORT VISIT" marketing gimmick.

If this makes sense and if you are interested and serious, you can reach out to me in DM.

I provide all ready to use real documents and templates, verified industry contacts and practical roadmap for your to start your export shipment. The guarantee of you getting all the resources and materials needed to be a ready operational exporter.

If there are any questions, reach out or write down in the comments.

Hey all,

I have been in the industry for half a year now, while I have completed shipments in UK, and the Middle East. I want to connect with buyers in the USA now. Would be very helpful if someone could give me leads. I have no idea who buys candles in the USA from India. The trade data shows that half of the candle exports (accumulating to approximately 45m worth of candles) are imported by the US.

I desperately need some contacts. If anybody in this sub is interested to import candles as a commodity for their business, or work as a commissioning agent, I would love to discuss terms. Thanks a lot!

Hi, I (25M) am from MH, India. I want to find a reliable contact in Malaysia who would help me set up a trade connect for the import of certain high demand products in ML. I am looking to establish long term working relationships in Malaysia and would prefer someone who is a native of ML, and who's comfortable reaching out to local distributors/retailers. Would love a person who's starting up a business or wants to side hustle some merchant trading.

HMU and TIA!

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some advice from people who have experience with e-commerce, dropshipping, food products, or online distribution.

I’m from Montenegro and I currently own around 150+ olive trees. The trees are mine and I have access to the production of the olive oil as well.

The problem is that the local market is pretty small. Most of the demand here comes from tourists during the summer season, but even then, there’s only so much I can realistically sell locally.

This got me thinking about whether I could turn the olive oil into a small international business instead.

I’m not really interested in competing with supermarket olive oil on price. I’m thinking more along the lines of a small-batch, premium product, with the story and origin being part of the value — something like olive oil produced from a small family-owned olive farm in Montenegro, with proper quality testing, harvest information, etc.

I’m still figuring out the best business model, though.

One idea I had was to work as a **supplier/producer** and find people who already have experience with e-commerce and could sell the product in their market.

For example:

Me → wholesale/distribution partner → customer

The partner could handle the webshop, marketing and customers, while I would handle the production, bottling, packaging and supplying the product.

Another possibility would be a dropshipping-style model, where someone has their own online store and I fulfill the orders directly to their customers. However, I’m not sure if that makes sense for a product like olive oil, especially considering international shipping, food regulations, customs, etc.

I’ve also thought about potentially doing **private label**, where an existing online food/gourmet brand could sell olive oil under their own brand and I would be the producer/supplier.

I’m basically trying to figure out which of these models makes the most sense.

A few questions I’d really appreciate some input on:

- Is selling olive oil internationally through e-commerce realistically viable?
- Would you approach this as dropshipping, wholesale, distribution, or private label?
- How difficult is it to deal with international shipping and food regulations?
- Would you focus on finding individual online retailers, restaurants, specialty food stores, or distributors?
- What would make you interested in buying olive oil from a small producer rather than an established brand?
- Does the fact that the product is from Montenegro and comes from a small olive farm have enough value to build a premium brand around?
- What would be the best way to find potential partners who already have an audience or an online store?

I’m not looking to immediately build a huge business. I’d be happy to start small, test the market with a limited amount of product, and see if there’s actual demand before investing heavily.

And if anyone here already runs an online food/gourmet store, has experience with olive oil, or thinks they could potentially be a good distribution/e-commerce partner, **feel free to DM me.**

I’d also genuinely appreciate any criticism or advice from people who have tried something similar.

Thanks!

Hey everyone, I am looking to connect with anyone who has experience importing peptides legally into Europe (using my registered company) from overseas wholesalers to resell. The issue is that most Chinese suppliers that provide commercial invoices, declare something else to customs, which makes it hard to declare it to accounting and also makes me legally liable in case customs find out.

Does anyone have experience with importing peptides into Europe from an overseas wholesaler, specifically from China? What was your experience with shipping and customs clearance? If you have reliable factory details or advice on navigating the logistics safely, I would really appreciate you sharing your insights. Thanks!

Hi everyone, I’ve been considering getting into art brokerage lately, but I’ve already been intimidated by the shipping situation, especially since I’d be dealing internationally and the price range is often in the thousands, based off of my resources.
First of all, I found the shipping costs so high that I started questioning the viability of the business. For example, shipping a medium to large-scale painting, 50 × 30 in. for instance, from the U.S. to Asia can sometimes cost as much as half the price of the artwork itself.
Even if the deal is still profitable, how do you handle the risk? Shipping insurance doesn’t always cover the full value, and getting full coverage can make the shipping cost even higher. Do you usually sign an agreement with the client to address this?
Also, if the artist lives far away, do you have them ship the artwork to you first, or do you have them ship directly to the client? So basically, either you add cost, or you lose some control. oh did i mention the custom tax yet?
I’d really appreciate hearing how other brokers/dealers handle this.

i am a student trying to learn this field before completing my study. As for now there are many influencers trying to sell there expensive course, where i cant pay that heavy amount of money as for now. i want some genuine teaching rather than completing a course. If anyone willing to help plz dm me.

So i have plastic pellets and granules and i want to export them to international clients can anyone here help me find clients you may have some profit too and if you know someone who already has setup to recycle the plastic please let me know that too

Hi everyone👋🏼,

I’m moving to China 🇨🇳 soon for my Bachelor's in International Economy & Trade. My primary goal goes beyond getting a degree—I want to spend my first year deeply researching China’s trade ecosystem, developing real business acumen, and identifying a viable niche (whether in sourcing, export, cross-border e-commerce, or digital services).

I'd love raw, practical insights from anyone with hands-on experience living or doing business in China:

1. Practical Market Research: How can I study trade dynamics on the ground beyond textbook theory? Which specific trade fairs, wholesale hubs, or sourcing markets are absolute must-visits to understand real supply chains?

2. Realistic Business Models: What trade or business ideas are genuinely actionable for an international student without crossing legal/visa boundaries?

3. Networking & Credibility: How do you build a reliable local network and gain credibility from scratch? What digital tools, platforms, or cultural nuances are essential?

4. 1-Year Preparation Strategy: If you had a full year just to observe, learn, and build the right "business persona" before launching anything, what daily habits, skills, or research focus would you prioritize?

I’m looking for honest, practical lessons and experiences—not generic theories. Thanks in advance for sharing your time and insights🙏🏻.